Combined pounding toy and stool



1956 K c. FUSSELMAN COMBINED POUNDING TOY AND STOOL Filed June 3, 1954 a? MW 1 IN VEN TOR. KENNETH C. FussaMA/v AT ronwsr United States Patent COMBINED POUNDING TOY AND STOOL Kenneth C. Fusselman, Warren, {Pinto Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,101

3 Claims. (Cl. 461)' My invention relates to a pounding peg toy and morev particularly to a structure of this kind in combination with a stool wherein the structure may be used by a child as a pounding peg toy or wherein the peg structure may be removed from operative position so that the construction may be used as an ordinary stool.

Pounding peg toys have had considerable commercial appeal since they teach a child coordination, help in physical development and provide amusement. However, with the many toys now available for children, thought must be given to conservation of space and money since most young married couples have limited income and housing facilities. Accordingly, my invention provides not only a pounding peg structure but also provides a stool in combination therewith; thus, two utilitarian structures are combined in one at very little increase in the cost of either and with the further consequent savings in required housing space.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View, showing the parts in one position,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view generally corresponding to the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of parts after being struck by a striking tool, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4 but showing the position of parts when the structure is used solely for stool purposes.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a stool having a top 10, legs 1111 connected to opposite ends of the top and side pieces 12-12 spanning the legs and secured to the legs and top to form a rigid stool structure. If desired, a bottom closure member 14 may close off a space below the top and may be secured to the lower margins of side pieces 1212 and to cleats 1515 carried by the legs 11.

The top is formed with a plurality of holes which extend transversely therethrough, the holes being disposed in a pair of spaced-apart series with each series situated near an end of the top 10 and including a like number of holes, the holes in one series being paired with respective holes in the other series, as, for example, the paired holes 1616a as seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

A pounding peg structure is detachably mounted on the stool in either one of two positions underlying the top 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, and comprises a plurality of lever members in number equal to the number of paired holes 1616a, and pounding pegs pivotally connected to opposite ends of each lever member.

As best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, each lever member 17, in the present embodiment, is in the form of a metal rod having an opening 18 intermediate its ends to pass Patented Oct. 30, 1956 2 a cross-rod 19 which is also preferably formed of metal. The cross-rod 19 extends between the side pieces 1212 and through an upper set of aligned openings 20 formed therein. The rod 19 has a head 21 at one end which is slotted to receive a screw-driver blade and has an opposite threaded end to receive a nut 22.

The cross-rod 19 pivotally supports all of the lever members 17, as best seen in Figure 3, and may be readily removed from the side pieces and the lever members to detach the pounding peg structure entirely from the stool, or to position such structure in a lowered position, as shown in Figure 5, a lower set of aligned openings 23-23 being formed in the side-pieces 1212 to receive the cross-rod 19 in lowered position.

As best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, each lever member 17 pivotally carries pegs 2424a at its opposite ends and in the present embodiment each peg has an oversize transverse aperture to freely pass the end of the lever member. The pegs 2424a extend through paired holes 16-1601, preferably with a friction fit to restrict free movement thereof and consequently free pivoting action of the lever member 17. If desired, each peg may have a longitudinal slot 25 to provide for proper working fit with its related opening.

With the cross-rod 19 in position in the upper openings 2tl-2tl in the side pieces 1212, the lever members 17 will be disposed below the top 10 an amount whereby upper portions of the connected pegs 2424a may extend above the upper surface of the top and may be driven downwardly by a striking tool T, such as the toy mallet shown in Figure 4.

It will be appreciated that when one of the pegs is driven downwardly (peg 24a in Figure 4) it will transmit motion through its lever member 17 to force the related peg (24 in Figure 4) upwardly. However, since the pegs are connected to the lever member, a sharp blow by the mallet will not project the upwardly driven peg clear of the structure.

When it is desired to utilize the construction solely for stool purposes, the cross-rod 19 is withdrawn from aligned openings 2020 in the side pieces 12-12. The entire pounding peg structure may be removed from the stool, but since parts may be lost it is preferable to maintain the assembly, but in a lowered position.

Accordingly, when the cross-rod 19 has been removed from the openings 2tl20, the connections between the pegs and related lever members need not be disturbed and all that is required is to push each peg flush with the upper surface of the top 10 whereby the openings in the lever members will be aligned with lower openings 23-23 in the side pieces lL-JZ and the cross-rod 19 may be positioned through such aligned openings and fixed in place. The combined construction will then be arranged as shown in Figure 5 wherein the upper por tions of the pegs are flush with the upper surface of the top 10 and therefore are not accessible for striking purposes.

To subsequently change the construction to a striking toy, the cross-rod 19 is removed from the lower openings 23-23 and the pegs and lever members are drawn upwardly to the position shown in Figure 2. It may be necessary to remove the bottom 14 to effect upward movement of the pegs and lever members although it will be appreciated that the bottom 14 may be provided with small openings respectively aligned with the several pegs, whereby a pusher member may be extended through the small openings to push the pegs to position shown in Figure 5. Further, the pegs may also be moved to proper position by means of a suitable tool which interengages with peg surfaces defining the slots 25 or which engages with a small screwthreaded opening formed in the top of each peg.

In any event, when the pegs and lever members have been moved to position shown in Figure 2, the crossrod 19 may be extended through aligned openings 2t)20 and openings 18 in the lever members 17 and the nut 22 replaced.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A device adapted to support a human body and to provide a pounding toy, comprising a body engaging portion having spaced inner and outer side surfaces, the outer one of which is adapted to engage the human body for support thereof, and said body engaging portion having spaced apertures extending therethrough from one side surface to the other, each aperture having a slidable peg therein and each peg being of a length greater than the spacing of said inner and outer surfaces whereby the inner and outer ends of each peg may be accessible from respective ones of said inner and outer surfaces, a pintle member, a rock lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said pintle member, and said device having spaced pintle supporting means, one nearer said inner surface than the other, whereby said pintle member may be supported on said nearer pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever closer to said inner surface in position wherein its opposite ends are respectively engageable with adjacent inner ends of said pegs to position said pegs with their outer ends projectable from said outer side surface so that depression of one peg in a direction toward said outer surface rocks said lever on said pintle member to project the outer end of the opposite peg beyond said outer surface for subsequent depression and consequent projection of the opposite peg, and whereby said pintle member may be supported on the farther pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever a greater distance from said inner surface so that the outer ends of said pegs may be disposed substantially flush with said outer surface and thereby provide a comfortable support for the human body.

2. A combined stool and pounding toy, comprising a generally horizontal seat having spaced apertures extending generally vertically therethrough, said apertures each having a slidable peg carried therein and each peg being of greater length than the thickness of said seat, a pintle member below said seat, a rock lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said pintle member, said stool having generally vertically spaced pintle supporting means, one nearer the underside of said seat than the other whereby said pintle member may be supported on said nearer pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever closer to the underside of said seat in position wherein its opposite ends are respectively engageable with lower ends of said pegs to position said pegs with their upper ends projectable beyond the top surface of said seat so that depression of one peg rocks said lever on said pintle member to project the upper end of the opposite peg upwardly of the top surface of said seat for subsequent depression and consequent projection of the opposite peg, and whereby said pintle member may be supported on the farther pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever a greater distance from the underside of said seat so that the upper ends of said pegs may be disposed to project not materially beyond the upper surface of said seat.

3. A device adapted to support a human body and to provide a pounding toy, comprising a body engaging portion having spaced inner and outer side surfaces, the outer one of which is adapted to engage the human body for support thereof, and said body engaging portion having spaced apertures extending therethrough from one side surface to the other, each aperture having a slidable peg therein and each peg being of a length greater than the spacing of said inner and outer surfaces whereby the inner and outer ends of each peg may be accessible from respective ones of said inner and outer surfaces, a pintle member, a rock lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said pintle member, and said device having spaced pintle supporting means, one nearer said inner surface than the other, whereby said pintle member may be supported on said nearer pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever closer to said inner surface in position wherein its opposite ends are respectively engageable with adjacent inner ends of said pegs to position said pegs with their outer ends projectable from said outer side surface so that depression of one peg in a direction toward said outer surface rocks said lever on said pintle member to project the outer end of the opposite peg beyond said outer surface for subsequent depression and consequent projection of the opposite peg, and whereby said pintle member may be supported on the farther pintle supporting means to dispose said rock lever a greater distance from said inner surface so that the outer ends of said pegs may be disposed substantially flush with said outer surface and thereby provide a comfortable support for the human body, the lower end of each of said pegs being pivotally connected and held to its respective rock lever end to restrain unintentional separation of said peg and rock lever, whereby each peg is held to said rock lever and held against projection and separation from said seat despite pounding action of an implement on the outer end of said pegs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.145,504 Beder Sept. 3, 1946 697,958 Flindall Apr. 15, 1902 2,197,976 Fletcher Apr. 23, 1940 2,403,522 Goldstein et a1. July 9, 1946 

